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ECHL Kalamazoo Wings

Final K-Wings Weekly Of The 09-10 Season

April 19, 2010 - ECHL (ECHL)
Kalamazoo Wings News Release


Game Rewind

Monday, April 12th @ Reading (Reading 3-Kalamazoo 2-Overtime)

Reading, PA- With offense highlighting the first four games of the series, it would be a defensive contest in game five that would decided the fate of the Kalamazoo Wings and the Reading Royals. For the third time in the series, the contest would head into overtime; however unlike the previous two, this game was won by the Royals, who advance to the American Conference Semi-Finals.

For the first time in their quarterfinals match-up, Kalamazoo was able to score in the opening 20 minutes of action. Taking the puck away from Reading's Aaron Brocklehurst, Darryl Lloyd sent a pass behind the net to Brian McGuirk (2nd) who registered the lone goal of the period on a wrap-around marker 1:33 into the game.

Before the goal from McGuirk, the K-Wings had been outscored 8-0 in the first period of the series.

Reading pulled even in the second period with a tally from Alex Berry (1st). Skating along the wall, Berry swift wrist shot caught K-Wings goaltender Riley Gill off balance and beat him just below the blocker.

The Royals took the lead midway in the period with Olivier Labelle's team-leading 5th goal of the playoffs. Labelle's rebound goal gave the Royals a 2-1 advantage with over 12 minutes remaining in regulation.

The K-Wings came back to tie the game at 2-2 with four minutes remaining in regulation with a right circle slap shot from Ben Simon (3rd). The goal gives Simon goals in all three games he has played in the postseason.

Neither team was able to score in the remainder of regulation forcing overtime.

Early in the overtime, Gill kept the K-Wings season alive stopping a penalty shot from Labelle 5:45 into the extra session.

However, with 2:52 remaining in the first overtime, a turnover in the K-Wings zone proved costly, as Andrew Sarauer (1st) stole the puck and scored the series clinching goal.

Gill (1-2) stopped a playoff-high 52 saves in the loss, while Dalton (3-2) saved 36 shots in the victory.

The win earned the Royals a three games to two series victory over the K-Wings.

Fast Forward

With their season complete, the K-Wings will begin their 37th season of professional hockey and their second in the ECHL this October.

Team Playoff Leaders: Kalamazoo Wings

Goals: Mathieu Curadeau, Trent Daavettila, Ben Simon (3 Goals)

Assists: Mathieu Curadeau, Andrew Fournier (4 Assists)

Points: Mathieu Curadeau (7 Points)

+/-: Devin Featherstone (+3)

Penalty Minutes: Darryl Lloyd (18 Minutes)

Power Play Goals: Dean Strong (1 Goal)

Short Handed Goals: Trent Daavettila, Andrew Fournier (1 Goal)

Game Winning Goals: Mathieu Curadeau (2 GW)

Shots: Sam Ftorek (24 Shots)

Shooting Percentage: Ben Simon (33.3%)

Overtime Goals: Mathieu Curadeau (2 Goals)

Goals Against Average: Riley Gill (2.24)

Save Percentage: Riley Gill (0.941)

Auction Tonight

The K-Wings will hold their final jersey auction of the season tonight at the Holiday Inn West. The auction will begin at 6 p.m. in the Holidome.

Preparing for the Next Level

During the 2009-10 season, the K-Wings had their fair share of call-ups to the AHL. Kalamazoo sent up 28 players to the next level, including Jeremy Duchesne, who is currently on the playoff roster of the NHL's Philadelphia Flyers.

Thank You Fans

In 36 regular season home contests, 123,602 fans, an average of 3,433 per game came to Wings Stadium during the 2009-10 season. The average of 3,433, which is an increase of 7.6% from last season and a boost of 243 people per night, is the largest attendance average to watch the K-Wings since in the 1998-99 season.

Banner Year

Kalamazoo's first season in the ECHL proved to be a banner year. Kalamazoo claimed the North Division title, dethroning the three-time division winners, the Cincinnati Cyclones.

The Obscure Stat of the Week

During the regular season, the K-Wings have spent a majority of the season in first place in the North Division. Kalamazoo spent 93 days in first place, 54 days in second and 24 days in third place in the division.

Tickets! Get Your Tickets!!

Season tickets for all K-Wings 2010-11 season are now on sale. Catch all the action as your K-Wings play the very best the ECHL has to offer. Tickets are on sale now by calling the Wings Stadium Ticket Office at (269) 345-5101.

Get On-Line

This season, the best way to keep track of the K-Wings is to log onto www.kwings.com . The site has player profiles, information about Wings Stadium events, and much, much more.

K-Wings Live

Join Head Coach Nick Bootland and the "Voice of the K-Wings" Mike Modugno tonight on "K-Wings Live". The show is on The Classic Hits Station WLKM (95.9 FM) and online through the B-2 Networks through www.kwings.com from 7-8 p.m. at Old Burdick's Bar and Grill inside the Holiday Inn Kalamazoo on South 11th Street.

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